Sainte-Geneviève Library
Ce point d’intérêt est disponible en audio dans le circuit: Visit Paris, Sorbonne University, Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens
As you stroll past the Sainte-Geneviève Library, you’re sure to notice the names engraved in stone. There are 810 of them! These aren’t just random inscriptions; they’re the authors of the library’s very first books. As for the building, it’s a fine example of Neoclassical and Beaux-Arts architecture. It was constructed in the 19th century, around the same time as Soufflot Street, leading to the Panthéon. It was the first public library to be built and has since been listed as a historical monument. Yet, the Sainte-Geneviève Library had already been in existence for a long time! It was founded in the 17th century by Cardinal de Larochefoucauld. He had just come into possession of the Sainte-Geneviève Abbey, famous for its exceptional monastic library. He went on to add his own collection of books, thus paving the way for the present-day library. Over the centuries, the collections were enriched notably thanks to the 20000 books confiscated during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Today, it’s a public inter-university library, open to anyone over the age of 18. You can choose between a free self-guided tour on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4 PM to 5 PM, or a free guided tour on Tuesdays from 9 AM to 10 AM. Either way, you’ll get to see the entrance hall, the grand staircase, the Labrouste Room, the cabinet of curiosities and the reading room of the Reserve.
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